NAVIGATION:
WE SUPPORT:
|
 
ALTAR
 |
The Western Altar in the Temple
- a permanently set up working space -
of my old Coven
('Circle of the Mystic Moon')
As can seen by the objects placed
upon the Altar, the West, in our Tradition,
represents the setting Sun, Death
...and as we were practicing on the
West Coast of Australia...
the element of Water
which some Pagans place in the East...
|
Originally it was thought that this derived from the Latin word "altus" ("high"), but this is no longer generally accepted. This word first appeared in Old English around 1000 AD. It came from the Latin "altaria" and "altare", which in turn came from the Sanskrit "alata-m" ("firebrand"). Its root word is the Indo-European "al" ("burn"). This is in reference to the candles or offerings found burning on an altar.
In its most basic form an Altar is a small shrine sometimes kept in a Pagan house. Similar to those kept by members of other religions e.g. Buddhists or Hindhus...
In Wicca and other forms of modern Pagan Witchcraft, the Altar is placed within a Magick Circle and while all four Quarters may have Altars in them their is usually only one 'working' Altar in the Circle where Ritual and magickal workings are performed.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this 'working' Altar usually faces either east or north (east or south in the Southern Hemisphere), depending on the Tradition and practices of the Coven.
If the ceremonies take place out of doors, rocks or tree stumps are often be used. Indoors, a table, wooden box or a board placed across two boxes may serve as an Altar.
In more traditional Wiccan Covens, whatever the form or materials, the Altar should not contain conductive metals such as iron or steel, as it is believed they could interfere with the energy of the ritual tools made of iron or steel), however many 'newer' and younger Wiccans are either ignorant of this or choose to ignore it.
Since many Covens meet in homes, flats or apartments where space is at a premium, the Altar may not be permanent but erected only during ceremonies.
The objects of ritual and worship placed on the Altar vary, depending upon the practices of the Coven and the rituals to be performed. They are: an Athame (a black-handled knife that is the Wiccan's primary magical tool), a white-handled knife, a sword, a wand, candles, a cup or goblet of wine, anointing oils, dishes for salt and water, a necklace without beginning or end, a Censer, bells, Scourges (whips), dishes for offering food and drink to the deities and images of the deities, such as figurines, wax statues or drawings.
If a broom and/or cauldron are needed in rituals, they are usually placed on either side of the Altar.
In Wicca, the Altar is never used for blood Sacrifice, as none are performed in Neo-Pagan Witchcraft.
In the Great Rite, in which either actual or symbolic ritual sex is performed, the naked body of the High Priestess is considered an Altar of the sacred forces of life, which echoes back to the ancient connection of Altar to the Mother Goddess.
This practice is NOT to be confused with, NOR equated with, other practices, such as those of the 'Church of Satan', where a naked woman sometimes serves as an Altar, OR, historically, with how naked girls and women served as Altars in the Black Mass as practiced in 17th-century France.
In total contrast to the "two bricks and a plank" approach of most Traditions of modern Paganism when it comes to the construction of the Altar, the Altars used in 'High Magickal' occult orders such as the 'Golden Dawn' (amongst others) must be built to exact measurements, placed in a specific spot of the working area and 'dressed' correctly with tools, banners and/or symbols appropiaate to the order one belongs to, the 'type' of magickal working to be performed, and level Initiation reached by the user....
 |
The Pillars, Banners and Altar of 'Neophyte Hall' of the Golden Dawn
|
In the Neophyte Hall of the Golden Dawn, the Altar is the primary point of focus.
Its black, closed shape is enigmatic, for it is an emblem of nature or the material universe, concealing the mysteries of all dimensions within, while revealing only the surface to the exterior senses. Its double cubical shape is derived from a passage taken from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes which states, "Whatever is below is like that which is above, and whatever is above is like that which is below." (see AS ABOVE, SO BELOW)
In the Neophyte Ritual, this idea is paraphrased as "The things that are below are a reflection of the things that are above."
The Altar is black to symbolize the physical world in which we live...a world sometimes dark and obscure.
Placed in the eastern part of Malkuth (as far as the temple layout is concerned), the Altar is the core of the visible temple. It may be painted black, but to an Adept its blackness will veil the colours of citrine on the east, olive on the south, and russet on the north.
The west side alone and the base will be black, while the summit is white.
It is believed that all divine light brought into the temple through the Hierophant and circulated by the officers is eventually grounded within the symbols on the Altar.
Once the ceremony is ended, the supernal light is withdrawn from the symbols upon the Altar so that it is not diminished by improper regard.
In common with many other Neo-Pagan Paths and Traditions, according to the magickal theory of the Golden Dawn, in some ways the Altar, like the individual, is a physical vessel which temporarily conceals and contains the spirit until it is withdrawn back into the godhead.
In John Dee's Enochian Magick the altar was called the "holy table" or "table of practice."
PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.
Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.
Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.
- Jean-Luc
|
A God-honouring, Biblically-based, and theologically-sound Christian Search Engine - Results in a highly accurate and well-organized format. |
Copyright 2004-2005 exWitch Australia
(formerly 'Born Again Pagan Ministries')
All rights reserved.
|
